* Astronomy

Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) has delivered to the customer, FSUE NPP VNIIEM, the first two suites of equipment for the KANOPUS-type satellite platforms.
The equipment now in Russia has successfully completed two weeks of tests, marking a major milestone for the project and the customer. Work is now underway to integrate the equipment into the first two satellites, under a joint operation with VNIIEM and SSTL engineers.
Under the contract, SSTL is supplying three suites of satellite avionics and software plus system design support, power management and batteries, on board computers and data handling capabilities for satellite subsystems and satellite operations. SSTL will also support spacecraft assembly and integration activities in Russia. This is the first major contract that SSTL has undertaken in Russia and the co-operation is a new and exciting development for both organisations, as well as the wider space industry.
Equipment for a third KANOPUS satellite platform is currently under manufacture and test at SSTLs Guildford facilities and will be delivered to the customer later this year.
The Russian Space Agency plans to launch a series of KANOPUS Earth observation satellites, with the first two due for launch at the end of 2009/early 2010.

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